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The Cost of Tobacco Use

In addition to health hazards, the use of tobacco presents a significant financial burden, not only on the individual user, but on other related entities including the general public and institutional budgets.

In the State of Georgia

Each year Georgia spends approximately $1.8 billion in healthcare costs and $3.2 billion in lost productivity costs due to cigarette smoking among adults.

If the current adult smoking prevalence persists, an estimated 219,000 Georgia residents who were between ages 0-17 years in 2010 could die prematurely from smoking related illnesses during their adulthood

This projected number of smoking-related deaths could result in an estimated $4 billion attributed to future healthcare costs (Reference: 2012 Georgia Adult Tobacco Use Data Summary).

On College Campuses

College campuses endure the following institutional costs associated with campus tobacco use:

Loss of productivity and sick leave

Increased health care costs

Increased liability

Increased risk of fires on campus and possible increase of insurance premiums

Maintenance costs of cleaning up cigarette butts and other tobacco litter

Features important tools and other resources (including the new Georgia Tobacco-Free Colleges and Universities toolkit) for academic institutions interested in adopting a tobacco-free policy as well as those interested in learning more about how to enhance their existing policy related to education,support and compliance.